Josephine: Sister, I am so sorry! I am so embarrassed! How do I tell Mother?

Louise: Tell her what? That you’re in love with a black man?

Josephine [wailing]: Sister, I love him!

Louise: Why?

Josephine: He’s so handsome! I saw him once with his shirt off, and it was mesmerizing! And his eyes! So big, and, and – brown, and his broad nose – and smile – and he’s so kind, so gentle –

Louise [absent-mindedly]: I know –

[Josephine stops chattering abruptly. Louise turns bright red]

Josephine [sharply]: What?

Louise [talking fast]: I mean I know what this feeling is like, Sister; I’ve gone through it!

Josephine: Yes, but –

Louise: You must forget him, you must, you know it, and you know that no one would accept it.

Josephine [looking glum]: Well, yes, I guess you’re right

Louise [looking guilty and helpless at the same time]: Oh, poor Josephine!

[The sisters embrace each other.]

_________________________________________

SCENE 4

[Another day. Brently is leaving the house; to show passing of time, Louise’s belly is more round; she is heavy with child. Husband and wife’s relationship has deteriorated. Their exchange of goodbyes is non verbal. The door closes. Almost immediately, Richards enters.]

Louise [smiling brightly]: Oh, there you are, darling!

Richards [hugging her tightly]: Darling, I’ve missed you!

[They sway together in their embrace]

Richards [drawing back, placing his hands gently on her shoulders]: I’ve taken care of everything.

Louise: I understand. I have the letter ready. I hope he takes it well.

Richards: I hope so too.

[They embrace again. There is a commotion outside. Josephine had seen them together. She had heard everything. She hides quickly from view. The lovers don’t seem to notice her. Richards and Louise leave after some time. Louise leaves a piece of paper on the table.]

_____________________________________________________

SCENE 5

[Josephine sitting in the armchair. She looks helpless and angry and shocked. The letter is crumpled up in her hands. In a fit of rage, she tears it up. She starts crying and wailing, like a wounded animal. It takes her a while to compose herself. She looks murderous and determined. Her eyes are wide with fury and betrayal, her cheeks are flushed, and her hair is frazzled. She grabs a handkerchief and takes something out of a drawer. She runs out.]

_____________________________________________________

SCENE 6

[Josephine is pointing a gun at Richards and Louise. They are at a secluded corner of the train station. Richards and Louise look frightened. Louise’s hands instinctively shield her protruding belly. Richards has his arms around her.]

Louise [whispering]: Josephine, Sister, what are you doing?

Richards [whispering urgently into Louise’s ear]: Run for it, run for it, RUN for it - !

[With a cold and harsh sneer upon her face, Josephine shoots him with a deafening shot to the head. A passing train muffles the sound. Louise screams. She flings herself over his body, shielding it from further harm, screaming and crying, her eyes unbelieving and frightful]

Josephine: I always hated you. You got all the love from everybody. Mother and Father loved YOU best. You got the house, you got the husband. What did I get? Nothing! Now I loved Richards, and you took him away too! And you have his baby now! What do I have left? Nothing! You took everything away from me! Everything! –

[Shoots Louise in the head this time. Louise crumples to the ground. Josephine hesitates above the bodies, her arms wavering. She throws the revolver away. Her breasts are heaving up and down, and there is a crazy look about her. She walks back to the station, where everybody is waiting for the train. She is smiling to herself. When the fast train comes speeding by, she jumps in front of it.]

_____________________________________________________________

SCENE 7

[Brently is an old man. He is having his morning tea. He is alone. He puts down the teacup and puts his head in his arms. Muffled sobs can be heard.]

____________________

THE END.

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